Spring undercutter



June 1 ,1926.

A. F. DOUGAN SPRING. UNDERCUTTER Filed April 23. M25

By Ms fit tafihey Patented June 1, 1926.

; UNITED STATES v 1,586,662. PATENT orifice} ARCHIE r. DOUGAN, orcocrrnnn, onneon.

SPRING UNDEROUTTER.

Application filed April 23, 1925. 'Srial no. 25,389.

thatafliorde'd the user of the sameno flexi-v bility to compensate for the rock of the arm of the user and where it was most diflicult to learn to use the same. The use of a device made in that manner, is much harder work upon the sawyer in using the same.

, In my new and improved device the main body portion of the device is made of spring steel and as the same is used by the woodsman at each sawing stroke of the saw, the

main body portion will'spring thus enabling the user of the same to compensate for the the arm in its normal movement. In addition to this rocking movement I have made a simplified and more efiicient slide for en:

gagelnent with the body portion that carries the saw is made to engage.

One of the objects of my invention is the creation of a double engaging head that is' adapted to engagement with the log in either of two positions, and a head that iseasily disengaged. from the log when the out has been completed or one that may be easily removed for repositioning for starting a sec- 0nd cut.

A further object of my invention is to provide a one piece engaging slide that is adapted to engagement with the body portion, and to change to a right or left hand I position without the removal of the slide from the body portion.

A further object of my invention is to provide the slide member of one piece, but having a shoulder upon-whicli the grooved wheel is made to rotate upon, and have provided ample clearance that will prevent the cutting edge of the saw fromengagement with the undercutter.

A further object of my invention consists in having a self contained unit and one that will not easily get out of order or that will remain free from 'lTlQCllElHlGfll troubles throu hout its mechanical life.

A tiirther object of my invention consists in a new and novel construction of the driv-' ing headof the same wherein a head of rocking movement created by the swing of' the grooved wheels into which the back of greater area is provided than is ordinarily found in devices of this character. H

A further object of my invention consists in providing efiicient locking means adapted to lock the sliding member infixed relation with the main body member.

lVith these and incidental objects in view,

the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combination of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth in the appended claims, and a preferred form of embodiment of which is here matter shown with reference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification.

In the drawings i Fig. 1 is an assembled side elevation of the completed device. s Fig. 2 is atop plan view of the mechanism shown in 1. s

Fig. 3' is a detached end view ofthe slide engaging member with the grooved wheel shown removed therefrom. I

Fig. 4c is a side view of the grooved wheel detached from the slide member. I

Fig. 5 is a top view of the mechanism shownin Fig. 4.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

The body member 1 of my spring under-- cutter is made of spring material, as spring steel, having an engaging point 2, adapted to engagement with the log to be cut and having a secondary engaging point on the head 3, having a point member 4;, and a driving head 5. The points 2 andi are adapted to engagement with. the log to be sawn and are so arranged that they may be easily removed fromthe log. To facilitate the drivingot the same and the turning of the slide member thereabout, I have provided on the outer end of the body member restricted area as shown at 6, having a collar 7, placed thereon and a head 8, to force engagement with the. log; blows are applied to the head 8 to cause penetration within the log structure of the point 2. The slide 9 is preferably made of one piece, having a shoulder 10, on its one side into which a threaded handle member 11, is made toengage to act as a set-screw in locating the slide upon the body member and to maintain the same in fixed relation there with. There are two openin s through the slide portion, 12 and 13; the e ongated 0 en ing 1.3; ,is adapted to engagementin sli ing relationship with the body portion 1, but by loosening the threaded member 11, the slide may be removed to the outer end of the body member; the collar 7, preventing the same being removed therefrom, and the opening 12, being just larger in area than the portion 6, of the body member, the same may be rotated thereabout to adapt the undercutter for use by a right hand sawyer instead of for use by a left hand sawyer. A shoulder 14-, is provided on the lower side of the undercutter having a bearing 15, provided thereupon, upon which the grooved wheel 16 is made to rotate. A shoulder 15 is provided against which the grooved wheel is made to engage and after being placed upon the bearing, a collar 18, is placed thereupon after which the end of the slide is peened over as shown at 19, in Fig. 1, to maintain the grooved wheel in fixed relationship with the slide member. The grooved wheel has a cylindrical hole 20, central thereof and of a proper and adequate size to provide a working fit upon the bearing 15, of the slide member. The slide 9 cannot be removed from the body portion because of the point 3, and the head 5, upon the log engaging end of the same and cannot be removed on the outer end because of the collar 7, being maintained thereupon through the head 8, having been peened and the grooved wheel cannot be removed from the slide because of the same having been peened in position.

Because of the character of surroundings in which undercutters are used and the dense undergrowth many times encountered, it is essential that an undercutter be a self-contained unit in which the parts are not adapted to being removed.

The main body portion 1, being made of spring material when the same has been secured to the log structure by the engagement of the point or points therewith, the saw is made to engage with the log and the back of the saw within the slot 17, and as the pressure is applied to cause the cutting edge of the saw to engage in a cutting action with the log, a certain required flexibility is secured, due to the character of the material from which the body portion 1 is made. This adequately and completely compensates for the rocking motion imparted to the saw by skilled buckers in the sawing of logs. F or the greater the pressure applied upon the saw, the more spring will be created in all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

\Vhat I claim is 1. A spring undercutter comprising a body member made of spring material, log engagin points disposed at one end of the body member adapted to being driven into a log, a slide having an elongated opening therein maintained in irremovable relationship upon the body member, means to locate the slide in a fixed position upon the body member comprising a threaded handle member screwed into a shoulder portion 01 the slide and forming a set screw, a bearing upon the slide member and spaced apart from the central body portion thereof, and a grooved wheel journaled upon the bearing portion of the slide and maintained thereupon by peening the end portion of the slide.

2. A spring undercutter comprising a body member made of spring material, log engaging points disposed at one end thereof and adapted to being driven into a log, a collar peened upon the other end thereof, a restricted portion adjacent said collar and cylindrical in form, a slide having an clongated opening therein maintained in irreniovable slidable relationship upon the body member, the central portion ot said clongated opening in said slide being enlarged and circular in form, and adapted to being revolved about said before mentioned cylindrical restricted portion, means to locate the slide in a fixed position upon the body member comprising a threaded handle member screwed into a shoulder of the slide and forming a set screw, a bearing upon the slide member spaced apart from the central portion thereof, and a grooved wheel journaled upon the bearin portion of the slide and maintained thereupon by peeuing the end portion of the slide.

ARCHIE F. DOUGAN. 

